SCOTLAND has paid tribute to South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela after he died on Thursday night.

A gathering to celebrate Mr Mandela's life will be held at Nelson Mandela Place in Glasgow at 5pm today, organised by ACTSA Scotland, the successor organisation of the Scottish Anti-Apartheid Movement.

Flags at the Scottish Parliament have been lowered to half mast as a mark of respect.

Presiding officer Tricia Marwick MSP has written to the South African high commissioner to offer condolences on behalf of the parliament.

She said: "Nelson Mandela was an inspirational figure, not just in South Africa but throughout the world and particularly here in Scotland.

"His affection for Scotland was returned when he visited Glasgow in 1993 where he recognised that the city had been the first place in the world to grant him Freedom of the City while he was still imprisoned on Robben island.

"On behalf of all Members of the Scottish Parliament, I extend our sincere sympathies to Mr Mandela's family and to the people of South Africa."

Tributes to Nelson Mandela poured in across Scotland following the former South African president's death.

Church leaders and politicians led the way, praising the 95-year-old anti-apartheid icon's courage and influence.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "With the passing of Nelson Mandela, the world has lost a towering statesman and the outstanding political leader of his generation.

"Mr Mandela's integrity, humanity and compassion were an inspiration to countless millions around the globe, and his influence transcended ideology, race and creed.

"He was also someone who had a longstanding commitment to and friendship with Scotland, and I had the privilege of meeting him once. Those links with Scotland were underlined by his being granted the Freedom of the City of Glasgow in 1981 when he was still imprisoned - the first city in the world to do so.

"The world is a poorer place for his passing, and our thoughts are with Mr Mandela's family and the people of South Africa."

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon took to Twitter to say: "A light has just gone out in the world. Rest in peace Nelson Mandela."

Former prime minister Gordon Brown said: "Nelson Mandela was the greatest leader of our generation. A leader of magnanimity, fortitude, unshakeable optimism and most of all, the most courageous man I ever met.

"True courage requires not only strength of will but strength of belief. What motivated Nelson Mandela and drove him to risk his life for freedom was a burning passion that irrespective of colour, race and background, all people are created equal - and his list of historic achievements starts with a multiracial South Africa."

Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, the Archbishop of Glasgow and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland, said: "I will remember Nelson Mandela not only for his courage and his ideals. Rather I will remember him for the great example he gave of the power of forgiveness. And from his forgiveness great hope grew."

For the Church of Scotland, The Right Rev Lorna Hood, the Kirk's Moderator, said: "Nelson Mandela was a towering figure of the 20th century whose strength, courage and determination are only matched by his grace and ability to forgive.

" He will forever be remembered not only for the end of apartheid in South Africa but the manner in which the change was accomplished.

"Emerging from prison after 27-years in Robben Island, without bitterness or a call for revenge, he led by example believing that the only hope for his country was the reconciliation of all people regardless of their colour or creed.

"Nelson Mandela is the epitome of a man who has never given up hope but believes wholeheartedly that no injustice can last forever and that evil will not have the last word."

In Glasgow, which Mr Mandela visited in 1993, officials said the city chambers flag will fly at half mast and will remain that way until his funeral is held.

A book of condolence will also be available to sign in the city chambers foyer.

Lord Provost Sadie Docherty paid tribute to South Africa's father of democracy, describing him as a political and moral icon.

She said: "Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to bringing freedom, justice and equality to the people of South Africa.

"His beliefs cost him years of his own freedom but his vision for peace and democracy prevailed. His legacy will live on and inspire generations to come.

"Glasgow was proud to be the first city in the world to honour him with a freedom of the city award and he will be sadly missed by a city which had the greatest of respect for him."

Lord Provost of Aberdeen George Adam said: "There are not many people who could say they changed the world, but Nelson Mandela was one of them.

"Faced with the fiercest oppression, he refused to give up fighting for the most basic of human rights. Alongside many other cities Aberdeen awarded Mr Mandela our highest honour, the Freedom of the City, a token of our respect and admiration for a man who's campaign for freedom and democracy had a global impact and who's legacy will inspire generations to come."

She said: "He fought injustice when there seemed to be no chance of victory. But he fought. He endured. And he won.

"And when Nelson Mandela won he struggled as hard for peace as he had to defeat apartheid.

"Nelson Mandela was the best of Africa - he was the best of humanity - he was the best of us all."

Campaigning organisations also responded to Mr Mandela's passing.

Unison said its predecessor, Nalgo, gave him honorary life membership of the trade union in 1984. Scottish secretary Mike Kirby said: "Whilst we are sad today at the passing of one of the great men of our time, we celebrate his life of achievement and we take pride in the fact that this union has never wavered in our support for freedom and justice in South Africa.

"This is a commitment that continues today through our links with Action for Southern Africa and Community Heart."

Equal marriage campaigner Tom French, policy co-ordinator for the Equality Network, tweeted: "Nelson Mandela - a champion of equality, social justice and progress. A shining light for the world. Rest in peace."

The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund took to Twitter to say: "Our prayers are with Nelson Mandela and his family. The world has lost a true leader but his legacy will continue to inspire us all."

Save the Children chief executive Justin Forsyth, whose role also covers Scotland, said: "Nelson Mandela knew that by investing in children we were investing in our collective future. He has often been quoted as saying that there can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way it treats its children and he demonstrated that commitment many times.

"His legacy will live on. Those who seek a voice will borrow his. Those who find themselves in darkness will use his words for light. His fundamental respect for humanity and his love for children will continue to inspire South Africans and people of all nations to know that a better future is always possible."

Mr Mandela had been patron of the Scottish Refugee Council since 1995.

Judith Robertson, chair of the board of directors, said the charity is "deeply grateful" for his support and will continue to take "hope, inspiration and dignity" from his life.

Professor Alan Miller, chairman of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, said Mr Mandela transcended race, class and nationality to "epitomise the human spirit" and "bring out the best in all of us".

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan was a spokesman for Glasgow on equality and anti-apartheid during his time as a city councillor.

"Nelson Mandela's lifelong commitment to freedom, equality and social justice is an inspiration to billions of people around the world, and to millions of people here in Scotland," he said.

"His links with and affection for Scotland were well known and many teachers and lecturers, students and pupils were privileged to hear him speak during his visit to Glasgow in 1993.

"It is impossible to overstate the impact that he had on all who met him or heard him speak, and the legacy that he leaves behind is one of continuing hope and belief in the inherent goodness of humanity."

The South African national flag is flying at half-mast alongside the Saltire outside Scottish Government headquarters at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh today.

The renaming of Glasgow's St George's Place as Nelson Mandela Place was particularly significant because the South African consulate was located in the street.

Mr Mandela was elected honorary member of the students' association at the universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde in 1984, the same year he was awarded the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen.

In 1990 Glasgow Caledonian University was the first to award him an honorary doctorate on his release from prison.